Including a certificate of authenticity, especially if it’s customized for the specific art print, helps to establish that the artwork was legally obtained directly from the artist. This one is important, because respectable tattoo artists have mutual respect for visual artists and are highly unlikely to consider tattooing someone else’s art without clear, explicit permission. This is a nice bonus to include along with a digital download of the art. This way, the client can have a framed copy of the artwork if they want to display it. I decided to include a 5×7 print of the artwork as part of my tattoo pass. For example, are you selling the right to use a simple line drawing, or a highly detailed sketch? Also, you may or may not want to charge shipping if you are mailing materials (I opted not to). You may, like me, decide to offer different price points depending on the types of art that you do.Ĭonsider how much time you spend on each piece, as that should be factored into your pricing table. If there’s ever an issue of authenticating who owns the rights to my work, I have the original on hand to prove my case.įor both tattoo passes, I included the following information: PriceĪfter searching online, I found that most artists charge between $25 and $60 for their tattoo passes. I sell prints instead, partially because my primary focus is on my books series and I can’t produce art at a high enough volume to keep many originals in stock, and partially because it’s an extra layer of protection for me. In my case, I rarely part with my originals. Registering for copyright prior to an infringement can also entitle you to statutory damages and covered legal fees in the event of a lawsuit. If you intend to sue someone for copyright infringement, you must register before you can go through the legal process. Copyright Office to establish a legal record. A copyright lasts for the life of the artist, plus 70 years after the artist’s death.”Īlthough your artwork is technically copyrighted after its creation, you might want to consider making it official through the U.S. It does not need to be registered with the copyright office or have a copyright notice attached to receive copyright protection. Note that an idea for artwork cannot be copyrighted-the art must be in a tangible form in order to qualify for copyright.Īccording to LegalZoom, “You have a copyright in your artwork as soon as it has been created and fixed in a tangible object. Your art is copyrighted as long as it is your own original work, regardless of artistic skill. If they grant permission or direct you to purchase a tattoo pass to buy the rights to their work, your next step is to contact your tattoo artist to check their policy on outside artwork. If you want to use an artist’s work for your tattoo, the first step is to contact the artist. They have a strict policy against using artwork from other artists because it could open the door to a copyright infringement lawsuit if the client failed to get permission first (or lied about getting it). Some tattoo artists will use only their own original work. This concern adds another shade of gray when answering this question, because while you can technically tattoo art with the artist’s permission, the final say will come from your tattoo artist. Many tattoo artists are wary of the potential for copyright issues. If you can’t find the artist, it’s better to be safe than sorry and seek out a different piece of art for your next tattoo. Tattooing someone else’s art without their permission is copyright infringement. You can NOT use someone’s art without their explicit permission, even if you found the image online and are unable to locate the original artist. The long answer is there are several factors to consider. In this article, I’ll share what I learned and how I applied my discoveries to my own art. The experience gave me some valuable insights into copyright, mutual respect between tattoo artists and visual artists, tattoo passes, and price ranges. I had to do some online digging and explore how other artists responded to this situation. Not only is that the best way to respect and support an artist, but it’s also the correct step needed to legally tattoo someone else’s art on your body.īut for me, this request was brand-new territory. Second, I appreciate the client reaching out to me rather than simply taking my image off the internet. Although I’ve discussed doing a commissioned tattoo in the past, this was the first time having someone seek an existing piece of artwork.įirst, let me say that it’s an incredibly flattering feeling to know that someone loves my art enough to want it permanently inked on their body. A few weeks ago, I found myself in this situation for the first time.
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